Beyond The Fury

Chapter Twenty-Six

(Song- Barbed Wire by Tom Grennan)
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Ivory's POV

I let myself believe that Hardin and I would always find our way back to one another. Even after something like this happened. But this time it feels final. Like I will never see him again, or that when I do see him again, it won't be the same.

I know it in my bones that this time it was it. I finally made my choice and so did he. He let me go.

The bleak sunlight creeps its way through the solid oak blinds of  Tina's apartment. Last night I wandered the lonely streets for what seemed like an eternity and in the darkness came beams of light. Like an angel rescuing me from myself but of course it was only Tina rolling up in her Volkswagen.

With the frantic state I was in she wouldn't allow me to go home and be alone so we stayed up late and watched some sad movies whilst we cried in one another arms and stuffed our faces with cookie dough ice cream. The last thing I remember before I fell asleep on the airy sofa is that one scene from Nick Cassavetes' 'The Notebook.' It was raining and Rachel McAdams runs into Ryan Goslings arms. They share a heated kiss and it was in that moment that I felt the most alone I have ever felt in my entire life.

"Good morning, Ivy!" Tina chirps happily and awfully loudly as she enters into the room. I cringe and scrunch up my nose at the sound. My eyes sting from a night full of tears and I contemplate on the thought that I may have gone blind.

"Morning, Tee.." I reply a lot less enthusiastically as I rub my eyes. Recently I've hated mornings a lot more than I should.

"Coffee?" Tina asks from across the room and I look at her weirdly, indicating that she definitely already knew the damn answer.

"I'll take that as a yes." She throws her head back in a chuckles as she pours out the steaming black liquid into a porcelain white mug. Written on the mug, in black cursive, it reads, 'if you're reading this leave me alone.'

"Wow. This mug is perfect for me." I join in on Tina's contagious laughter as she hands me the steaming cup of brew. It's so hard to be sad when I'm around my best friend. She helps mend me.. even when I feel like I am too broken to be fixed.

"What time is it?" I question and raise a brow, bringing the hot liquid to my lips as I sip cautiously on it.

"Uhh around 11:30. Why?"

What!

I choke midway through swallowing and begin to cough frantically to catch my breath.

"What?" I shriek as I finally manage to ask. Hurriedly I place down the cup I'm holding onto the coffee table in front of me and struggle to pull my jeans up my legs and over my borrowed pyjama shorts from Tina. I don't have time to take them off.

"Yeah it's no big deal.. I didn't wanna wake you up earlier so I thought I'd let you sleep-"

"Shit, shit, fucking shitbags!" I yell. Tina's eyes widen and I can see her biting back laughter. She always fails to keep a straight face in serious situations.

"Woah.. calm down, Ivy. What's happening? Where are you going?" Her voice is lighthearted as she falls down onto the sofa, a bundle of blankets are bunched up by her side- unfolded and messy.

"Look, thank you for letting me stay but I really need to go. I.. I could lose my freaking house!" My hands shake as I fight to button up the waistband of my tight jeans. I just hope Elijah can find it within himself to spare me some extra time otherwise I don't know what I will do..

"Whatever it is I can help you fix it. Come and drink your coffee, stresshead." Tina jokes and I turn to face her, taking in her auburn hair that is perfectly straight. I drag my hands down my face. I'm still so tired and I look a mess compared to her.